Fluid mixing device



2,908,227 Patented Get. 13, 1959 ice FLUID MIXING DEVICE Franklin M. McDougall, Kirkwood, Mo., assignor to Bela Deutsch, Herman Dcntsch, and Carl J. Deutsch, doing business as Standard Machine & Manufacturing Co.

Application June 20, 1957, Serial No. 666,952 Claims. (Cl. 1034-462) This invention relates generally to improvements in a fluid mixing device, and more particularly to improvements in a device of this type that enables selectively the mixing of liquid soap with a stream of water.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a structural arrangement of liquid and air passages in the body member of the mixing device that precludes any fouling of the valve mechanism by the induced liquid.

Another important object is to achieve a fully automatic fluid mixing device, one that is adapted to mix a liquid such as soap with a stream of water simply upon actuation of a button, and adapted to condition the valve mechanism operated by the button upon termination of the water flow so that upon subsequent flow of such stream the soap will not be induced except by manually actuating the button.

Still another important objective is realized by the structural arrangement of parts in the mixing device which provides an air induction passage, and in particular forms the passage portion that is located above the liquid induction passage and its liquid outlet port in order to achieve the anti-fouling advantages and functional results stated above.

Other important advantages are aiforded by the particular structure of the parts in that an annular groove is provided in the device around the primary passage.

Other important advantages are afforded by the particular structure of the parts in that an annular groove is provided in the device around the primary passage provided therethrough, the groove constituting a portion of the air induction passage that communicates with the liquid induction passage and enables the valve mechanism and the hose connection to the liquid induction passage to be disposed on opposite sides of the device.

Yet another important object is realized in that the automatic fluid mixing device is simple and durable in construction, comprised of few parts, economical to manufacture, eflicient in operation, capable of quick and easy installation, and readily operable by any one without any complicated instructions.

Another important object isrealized by an improved valve mechanism in the air induction passage which permits the use of a spring of suflicient strength to hold and urge the actuating button positively in the initial inoperative position.

The foregoing and numerous other advantages of the invention will more clearly appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, particularly when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the fluid mixing device, showing the connection of said device to a faucet and to a reservoir of liquid to be induced into the Water flow;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the fluid mixing device as seen in a vertical plane passed transversely through the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the device as seen looking toward the right hand side of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first to Fig. 1, in which the connection and environment of the fluid mixing device generally indicated at 10 is illustrated, the fluid mixing device 10 is attached to a conventional type faucet referred to as 11 and operatively connected by tubing 12 to a soap reservoir 13.

The fluid mixing device includes a body 14 through which a primary passage 15 is formed. The body 14 is formed at the upper portion of primary passage 15 to provide an internally threaded socket 16. A pair of washers 17 is disposed in socket 16, and a cone-shaped washer 20 seats on washers 17. Threadedly fixed to mixer body 14 in socket 16, is a screw threaded coupling 21 that includes an upwardly tapered wall 22 engaging cone-shaped washer 20, the washers 17 and 2t cooperating with coupling 21 to provide an effective seal. The coupling 21 is internally threaded at its upper portion 23 to facilitate attachment to a faucet 11, and a plurality of set screws 24 are carried by coupling 21 to anchor securely the coupling to such faucet.

The lower portion of mixer body 14 is provided with an externally threaded extension 25 on which ismounted a nozzle 26. Seated and retained by a lower inturned flange 27 of nozzle 26 is a pair of washers 30 on which is carried a water-break-up means consisting of a circular disc 31 having a plurality of circular apertures 32 formed in its peripheral margin through which the Water flows after leaving the primary passage 15 formed in mixer body 14. The perforated disc structure 31 is perhaps best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Another washer 33 (Fig. 2) is disposed between disc 31 and the lower extension 25 of body 14. When the nozzle 26 is threadedly attached to body extension 25, and tightened, the washers 30 and 33 provide an effective seal.

The body. 14 is formed so that a portion 34 of primary passage 15 is provided immediately adjacent the socket 16 which is relatively enlarged with respect to an immediately subjacent portion 35 to provide an internal annular shoulder 36. Located in primary passage 15 and particularly in passage portion 34 is a plug 37 that seats on shoulder 36 to provide an effective seal. The plug 37 is provided with a highly restricted orifice 40 through which the water from faucet 11 must pass at greatly increased velocity. It will be seen that the restricted orifice 40 in plug 37 and primary passage 15 constitute a venturi tube which has an area of great pressure reduction immediately adjacent the lower end of orifice 40.

Formed in mixer body 14 is a liquid induction passage 41 preferably arranged horizontally as shown in Fig. 2, the liquid induction passage 41 being provided with a liquid outlet port 42 that opens into primary passage 15 immediately below restricted orifice 40 in the region of greatest pressure reduction. The inlet to liquid induction passage 41 is operatively connected to a hose connector 43 threadedly attached to one side of mixer body 14. The hose 12 is connected to hose connector 43 and serves to connect the soap reservoir 13 with liquid induction passage 41.

A restrictor 44 is provided on hose connector 43 in order to realize a more precise control of the soap flow to the fluid mixing device 10. This restrictor 44 consrsts of a threaded plug which is threadedly attached to hose connector 43, the plug being provided with a reduced passageway 45. Depending upon the field of -3 usage, restrictor plugs-r44-havingdifierent size passageways1345 may be threadedly connected to hose connector :The lower portion 46 of-plug 37 is reducedso that such reduced zportion 46and the body 14 aboutits periphery form an annular groove 47 that: extends 'about and around primary passage 15 as shown in "Fig. 2. It will be particularly noted that annular groove'47 is located above the liquid induction passage 41 and the liquid outlet port 42. The -annular groove 47 constitutesa portion of an-air induction passage fifi formed unmixer body 14. "This air inductionpassage -50in- 'cludesan air'outlet port '51 thatopens'into the top side of liquid in'ductiodpassage 41immediately adjacent the liquid outlet port 42.

A valve mechanism. is provided in the fluid-mixing device which is adapted=to-open and closethe air ;in-

Tductionzpassage 50. The mixer body 14. is provided with V asocket 52 at the opposite side from hose connector 43. A valve seat 53 is attached-to mixer body 14,'the valve seat i53ibeingprovided with apassageway 54 thatconimunicates .withair inductionpassage 50, and provided with a valve outlet port 55 that communicates with socket 52. It'will benoted thatthe valve outlet port 55 provided by valve seat 53 affordsa relatively larger area compared to the cross sectional area ofthe-airinduction passage 50.

Lining socket 52 and surrounding-the valve'seat 53 and vvalve port 55 is a ret-aining member 56 that has a center aperture defined by .an inturned circular lip- 57. A" button -60 is retained by and reciprocably mounted in socket '52 and retainer member 56, the button-60' constituting a valve member. The button 60 includes a portion 61 thatextends through the central aperture of retainer member56 when the buttonis-disposed in-the valve-open position. In this position, .the-circularlip '57 engages the buttonportion61. The innermost portion 62 of'button 60- is comprised of. a plastic orrubber material whichsisv adapted to engage the valve-seatiSS -to close the .valve port-55 when-button 60 is depressedto 'the valve-closed position.

The body 1-4 and retainer member 56 are provided with an air inlet port 63 whichcommunicates with 't-he valve port 55 and hence with the air'inductionpassage 50 when the button 60 is disposed in the valve-open'position.shown in Fig. 2.. V

Aicompression spring 64 is disposed in passageway 54 ofvalve seat .53, one end of spring 64 engaging themixer body 14 and the other end engaging the button 60. The springc64 tends to .urgebutton 60 toward the valve-open position. When .button:-60 is-depressed-to closevalve port.55, it is depressed againstthe :loadingof spring 64. Because ofthe relatively largearearof valve port '55, it

ispossible to usea relatively large compression-spring 64, at least one of sufficientstrength to hold and-retain .the button 60;positively in thevalve-open position.

In operation, the -fluid mixing Ldevice .10 is first threadedly attached to-a faucet=-11 and the 'hoseconnector 43 is connected to a soap reservoirby .aLtube 12.as showninrFig. 1. In the initial stage of .operation,;the button 60 is-gnormally disposed in the valveopen position shown in Fig. 2. -When the valve rnechanism is conditionedas described above, the faucet 11 may begturned on and'a stream of water flows through thelprimarypassage-15. Because the air induction passage is .open, .there will notbe any soap inducedthrough liquidvinduction passage 41, and-hence will not be induced into the stream of water through primary passage '15.

Whenv it isdesired 'to. introduced soap into; the .stream of waterthrough primarypassage 15,- theibutton 60 is depressedagainst the valve port l551m1'der1loading of spring 64 to close the air indilctionpassagerSO. At that instant, ithe reduced pressure immediately below .the restrictedorificeAO causes .azflowof liquid soap. through the liquid induction passage 41 and hence into the stream of water throughprimarytpassage 15. wThewpressure differential, i.e., the difierence between the pressure immediately below restricted orifice 40' and atmospheric pressure at the other side of button 60 retains the button 60 in the valve-closed position.

When a sufficient supply -of'-soap is introduced into primary passage -15,'the flowof-soap through liquid induction passage 41 is stopped by turning off faucet 11 and-hence stopping A the flow of water through primary passage 15. *Obviously, when this-is-done,the-pressure immediately below'restrictedorifice 40 israised toxatrnospheric value. Consequently, the button 60 is urged outwardlyzto ;the ivalveropen, position -,.underthe loading of spring 64, and the flow of soap through liquid induction passage 41 is stopped;

When the faucet 11 is subsequently turned on and the flow of water resumed through primary passage 15, liquid "soapwill not be induced through liquid induct-ion passage 41' inview' of' the fact that air induct-ionpassage 50 isopen. lt'is seen that because the 'air'outletport 51 is-located"closelyadjacent-the liquid outletport '42 of liquid induction passage "-41, there 'will 'be only a minute quantity if' any, of soap carried into the primary passage upon reopening of air induction passage -50. importantly, 'it will '-'be "particularly noted that --because the air outlet port 51 opens into the top of liquidinduct-ion passage "41 and'because' the annular groove "47--is looated above passage4'1 and liquid "outlet 'port'42-thatthere is no opportunity for the soap to enter-the air'induction passageand "cause any'fou-ling' of thevalve mechanism.

Althoughtheinvention has been described by making detailed reference to a single preferred embodiment, such detail is-tobeunderstood in aninstructive, rather' than in any restrictive sense, many variants beingpossible within the scope of the claimshereunto appended.

I claim as my invention:

-1. A fluidmixingdevice comprising a casing attached to a source'of fluid'underpressure,said'casingbeing formed to provideaprimary-passage; means in said primary passage-providinga'restricted-orifice, a liquid induction passage in said casing communicating with said primary passage below-said-orifice, said means andthe casing providing an internal 'groove'located above't-he liquid induction-passage=when soattached, anair induction passage insaid-casing'including said' groove, the air inductionpassage having' an air outletport opening into said liquid induction--passage, a valve means in said :air inductionzpassage adapted to closesaid air inductionpassage, and resilient means tending to urge said valve means in-a direction to open said air'induction passage.

7 2. ir-fiuid-mixing device comprising a casing attached to asource of fluid under. pressure, said casingbeing formed to-provide-a primary passage therethrough, a plug in said primary passage provided witha restricted orifice, a liquidinductionpassage insaid casing having a liquid outlet .portopening intosaid primary passage immedilately: below said restricted orifice, an air induction passage in said casing having an air. outlet portopening into said liquid induction passage and having a valveport, the casing and, plug being formed to provide an annular groove. therebetween, said groove being a portion of the air induction passage and being located between the air outlet port and valve port above the liquid outlet .port when so attached, and valve .means for opening and closing said valve port.

3. A fluid mixing device comprising a casing attached to a source. of fluid under pressure, said casing being formed to provide a primary passage therethrough, the casing including an annular shoulder about the primary passage, -a plug located in said primary passage and seated -onsaid shoulder -to-provide an efiective seal, the

plug beings-.provided with a restricted orifice, -a liquid said restricted orifice, an an induction passage in said casing having an air outlet port opening into said liquid induction passage and having a valve port, said plug being provided with a reduced portion to provide an annular groove with the casing about said primary passage, the groove being a portion of the air induction passage located between the air outlet port and valve port above the liquid outlet port when so attached, and valve means for opening and closing said valve port.

4. A fluid mixing device comprising a casing attached to a source of fluid under pressure, said casing being formed to provide a primary passage, a plug in said primary passage provided with a restricted orifice, a liquid induction passage in said casing having a liquid outlet port opening into said primary passage immediately below said restricted orifice, an air inlet passage in said casing having an air outlet port opening into said liquid induction passage, and having a valve port opening to the atmosphere on the opposite side of said primary passage from the liquid outlet port, the casing and plug being provided with an annular groove therebetween, the groove being a portion of the air induction passage located be- IJWCCH the air outlet port and valve port and being located above the liquid outlet port when so attached, valve means carried on said casing including a valve member adapted to close said valve port, and a resilient means acting on said valve member tending to urge said valve member to a valve open position.

5. A fluid mixing device comprising a casing attached to a source of fluid under pressure, said casing being formed to provide a primary passage therethrough, the

casing being formed to provide an internal shoulder at said primary passage, a plug in said primary passage seating on said shoulder to provide an effective seal, the plug being provided with a restricted orifice, said plug and casing being provided with an annular groove therebetween, said groove extending about the periphery of said plug and extending about the primary passage, 9. liquid induction passage in said casing having a liquid outlet port opening into said primary passage immediately below said restricted orifice, said liquid induction passage having a liquid inlet port at one side of said casing, an air induction passage in said casing including said annular groove, said air induction passage having an air outlet port opening into the top side of the liquid induction passage immediately adjacent the liquid outlet port, and having an air inlet port at the opposite side of said casing, a valve seat in said air induction passage, a valve member adapted to engage said valve seat and close said air induction passage, and resilient means engaging said valve member tending to urge said member to a valve open position, the annular groove being located above the liquid induction passage when so attached to preclude fouling of the valve mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Davis Aug. 27, 1918 

